Puzzle

ABSTRACT

A puzzle which includes components of a shape or design printed on at least one side of a substrate such that when the substrate is properly folded, the components of the shape or design align to form the completed shape or design. The inventive concept can be applied to numerous different shapes and designs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to a puzzle and more specifically to a puzzle whose objective it is to bring together components of a shape, pattern, or design in a manner to form the shape, pattern, or design solving the puzzle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a puzzle having a substrate such as a piece of paper which contains components of a shape, pattern, or design. More specifically, the invention is directed to a free form puzzle whereby when properly folded, the components come together to form the completed shape, pattern or design. Such shape, pattern, or design can be a variety of different items such as a square, circle, rectangle, oval or any other shape or design which is suitable pursuant to the invention. Generally, the greater number of folds required to form the shape, pattern or design, the more difficult the puzzle. For instance, a puzzle requiring five folds can be considered more difficult than a puzzle only requiring two folds.

The puzzle can be composed of a substrate such as a piece of paper, cardboard, plastic, flexible electronic display or any other type of substrate which allows for flexible folding of the substrate to perform the steps necessary to solve the puzzle. The substrate may be a piece of generally rectangular shaped paper with a first top edge, a second bottom edge, a third right edge, and a fourth right edge although the substrate may be of any shape which is suitable pursuant to the present invention.

The puzzle is further comprised of components of the shape, pattern, or design embedded in the substrate such that when folded one or more times in a specific sequence, the components come together forming the completed shape, pattern or design and solving the puzzle. The components can include a corner of the square, part of a side of the square, or any piece of the square suitable pursuant to the invention.

The invention is also directed to a puzzle using an electronic media such as a flexible electronic display containing pieces of a puzzle embedded onto it such that when the pieces are properly brought together, a electronic circuit is formed. When such electronic circuit is formed, a signal may be generated which indicates to the user of the puzzle that it has been solved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a workbook containing multiple puzzles.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the puzzle illustrating the unsolved puzzle.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the puzzle illustrating the solved puzzle.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the puzzle depicting two folds.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the puzzle in a second embodiment illustrating the unsolved puzzle.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the puzzle in a second embodiment illustrating the solved puzzle.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the puzzle in a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-3 depicts an illustrated embodiment of a puzzle 10 in accordance with the invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention shown in a workbook 6 containing numerous puzzles to be solved by a user. Each puzzle consists of one piece of paper and before the user begins a puzzle, the user detaches the piece of paper containing the puzzle from the workbook along a line of weakness, 8.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the puzzle 10 consists of a piece of paper 12, having a first side 14, a second side 16, having parallel top and bottom edges 18,20 and parallel first and second side edges 22,24, respectively. The side edges are perpendicular to the top edge. In addition, components of the square, 30, 32, are pre-printed on the piece of paper 12 in a predetermined configuration such that when properly folded, the components of the square, 30, 32 come together to form the completed square 26.

In addition, placed on the first and second sides, 14, 16, are markings 34, spaced equidistance from each other and arranged in a pattern forming a plurality of quadrants, 36. The markings, 34, and quadrants, 36 assist the user in completing the puzzle by allowing the user to space and angle a fold in a manner towards solving the puzzle. The components of the square, 30, 32, and markings, 34 can be printed on the paper using a typical laser or inkjet printer.

FIG. 2 depicts the puzzle in a pre-folded state and FIG. 3 shows the puzzle once it has been solved. In the illustrated embodiment, the user of the puzzle folds the piece of paper 12 twice to fit components, 30, 32 of the square together into a square, 26, solving the puzzle.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in the illustrated embodiment, solving the puzzle 10 consists of two folding steps. First, the paper 12 is folded in half along dotted line 28 bringing third edge 22 and fourth edge 24 together so that the piece of paper 12, is half of its original width as measured from the top of the piece of paper. Next, fourth edge 24 is folded back transversely from third edge 22 revealing the completed square, 26 and solving the puzzle 10. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the puzzle during the folding process wherein the paper 12 has been folded twice and square components 30, 32 are drawn into proximity to each other. As can be shown from FIG. 4, the illustrated embodiment requires two folds to bring square components 30, 32 together to solve the puzzle.

It should be noted that there are many different puzzle configurations which can be implemented. These include using different shapes such as circles, rectangles, and others. In addition, an alternative configuration may require additional folds to solve the puzzle enhancing its difficulty.

In another embodiment described in FIGS. 5-7, the puzzle 37 consists of a piece of paper 38, having a first side 40, and second side 42, having parallel top and bottom edges 44, 46, and parallel first and second side edges 48, 50, respectively. In this embodiment, the side edges are perpendicular to the top edge. Four components of the square, 54, 56, 58, 60, are printed on the piece of paper 38 in a configuration such that when properly folded, the components of the square 54, 56, 58, 60, line up next to each other to form the completed square 52.

It should be noted that in this embodiment any other shaped formed other than a square is improper and does not result in the puzzle having been solved. Further, the puzzle 37 can only be solved by folding the paper. That is, in this embodiment, ripping, cutting, or any other type of modification to the paper 38 is prohibited. In this embodiment, the final shape is a square although it is contemplated that various other types of shapes, figures and the like can be implemented.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. A puzzle comprising multiple components of a pattern, design or shape placed at different locations on at least one side of a substrate of a specific size and shape such that when folded in a specific configuration, the components connect to form a completed pattern, design or shape.
 2. A puzzle as defined in claim 1 wherein, the objective of the puzzle is to connect and form the pattern, design or shape with the least number of folds and/or the least amount of time.
 3. A puzzle as defined in claim 1 wherein, the puzzle contains no prescribed fold lines which are required to solve the puzzle.
 4. A puzzle as defined in claim 1 wherein, the positioning of the components and the shape of the paper contribute to the number and positioning of the folds required to solve the puzzle.
 5. A puzzle as defined in claim 1 wherein the puzzle can be solved with more than one fold configuration.
 6. A puzzle comprising components of a shape embedded on at least one side of a substrate wherein when folded in a specific configuration, the components come together to form the shape.
 7. A puzzle as defined in claim 6 wherein, the substrate is a flexible electronic display.
 8. A puzzle as defined in claim 7 wherein, when the components come together to form a shape, a signal is generated.
 9. A puzzle comprising components of a shape embedded on at least one side of a flexible electronic display such that when folded in a specific configuration, the components come together to form the shape and complete an electrical circuit.
 10. A puzzle as defined in claim 9 wherein a signal is generated upon completion of the electrical circuit.
 11. A puzzle as defined in claim 10, wherein the signal indicates the puzzle is solved. 